Next stop Yorkshire: The peloton will being the 2014 in Leeds (Image: Getty)

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Chris Froome will begin his defence of the Yellow Jersey in Yorkshire, with the Tour de France boss admitting: “The future of cycling speaks English.”

Race director Christian Prudhomme says next year’s Grand Depart could be the first of many take-offs in the UK.

Following back-to-back British wins by Sir Bradley Wiggins and Froome, Prudhomme believes Le Tour should cash in on its UK popularity.

And he warned the 190km first stage from Leeds to Harrogate in 2014, which takes the peloton to Pennine outposts Skipton and Hawes, would be one of the toughest starts to the race in its history.

Yorkshire saw off two rival UK bids – one from Scotland – to host the send-off to the world’s most prestigious cycle road race, and the Scots have already indicated they are likely to bid again for 2017’s Grand Depart.

Prudhomme said: “The future of cycling speaks English – and I am a Frenchman saying that.

“We had three bids and Yorkshire won, and we still have a bid on the table from Scotland.

“There is a huge passion for cycling in the UK and it is very important to keep the passion here.

“Next year will be one of the most difficult Tour starts in our history, and that is one of the reasons we chose Yorkshire.

“It will be a stage for punchers and attackers. Overall, it will be a tough start in outstanding scenery, and there will be a magnificent sprint to end the first stage.”

Prudhomme – who ­cherishes Mark ­Cavendish’s place as a modern great among Tour sprinters with 25 stage wins – was delighted to discover the opening stage will finish in the home town of the Manx Missile’s mother, Adele.